manufacturing output

U.S. stock futures dropped, signaling equities will extend their worst loss in six weeks, as global shares slid after China tightened lending rules and concern grew that early Greek elections could trigger political turmoil.

The euro gained 0.3% to $1.3947 at 12:56 p.m. London time after appreciating to $1.3960, the strongest level since March 13. It reached $1.3967 that day, the most since October 2011. The 18-nation currency climbed 0.1% to 141.88 yen. The dollar fell 0.2% to 101.74 yen.

The next key data points are the jobs numbers, with ADP employment report on Wednesday and the famous monthly non-farm payrolls report this Friday, both of which could be market moving, especially Friday.

Gold traders are becoming more bullish as concern mounts that a worsening of Europe’s debt crisis will spur demand for a protection of wealth at a time when nations from the U.S. to Japan are signaling more stimulus.